Junior shovel



April 6, 1965 K. w. WALTERS ETAL 3, 2

JUNIOR SHOVEL Filed March 5, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 King W Walters Doss t4. McKinney 1 N V 15 N TO K 5 m A9 I- Mm 1 W f QR April 1965 K. w. WALTERS ETAL 3,176,862

JUNIOR SHOVEL Filed March 5, 1962 5 Sheets-Shed 2 Fig. 2 2/2 I06 206 g) /2 v I I I E 6'8 11% /90 1 //0 m Fig. 3

King W Walters Doss W. McKinney INVENTOKS BY 4062a.

WWW

April 6, 1965 K. W. WALTERS ETAL JUNIOR SHOVEL Filed March 5, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 /53 K 14a /52 144 150' I64 I66" I62- I 42 f 17 6 I72 74 as 88 no I F 7s King M! Walters Doss W McKinney INVENTORS 44 f BY @MM United States Patent 3,176,862 JUNIOR SHOVEL King W. Walters and Bess W. McKinney, both of 966 Waggoner Road, Paradise, Calif. Filed l /lar. 5, 1962, Ser. No. 177,643 6 (Jlaims. (Q1. 214135) This invention primarily relates to a manually controlled toy shovel to be operated by a junior boy.

It is the primary object of this invention to disclose a device for use by a junior boy which simulates a power shovel or crane.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a device not only for the recreation and amusement of the boy, but to help develop and build strong muscles as well as introducing the boy to a vocation. The device is particularly adapted to train a boy to use his hands and eyes in conjunction with his intellect.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a toy device of the character indicated simulating a power shovel or crane which includes a boom, a dipstick mounted upon the boom for movement relative thereto and a dipper bucket having a discharge gate wherein movement of the dipper stick and dipper is similar to that of a full sized industrial machine and wherein such movement is accomplished by means of simply constructed and easily actuated manual controls.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a device of the character indicated which is completely safe in operation and more specifically to mount a seat for the operator on one end of the boom wherein the operator may act as a ballast so that the device cannot tip with the dipper loaded or emptied. The device is so constructed that the operator must put the dipper of the shovel on the ground before leaving the seat as an added safety feature.

Still another object of this invention resides in the provision of means incorporated into the device for holding the device immobile and the boom from rotating when the device is not in use.

Still another object of this invention resides in the provision of means for use by the operator to easily rotate and reposition the boom.

Another object of this invention resides in its simple and practical construction, compactness and size, ease of maintenance and repair, and economic manufacture making the device commercially feasible.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side view in elevation of the toy shovel.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view or the shovel.

FIGURE 3 is a view in end elevation as seen from the left hand side of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the plane indicated by the line 44 of FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the plane indicated by line 5-5 of FIG- URE FIGURE 6 is a bottom plan view of the base or platform used to support the shovel structure.

FIGURE 7 is a schematic diagram of the rope and pulley arrangement used to operate the various components of the shovel.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the toy shovel it) comprises a supporting platform or base 12. The base 12 has a pair of front wheels designated by the numerals Li and 3.6 swivelly mounted thereon for steering the Edibfib Fatented Apr. 6, lQfiS shovel. A pair of rear wheels 18 and Ztl are journalled from the platform 12 for rotation about fixed axes to complete the mobile assembly. In order to render the shovel immobile when not in use, a brake assembly designated by the numeral 22. is provided for preventing the rear wheels 18 and 20 from rotating. The brake assembly 22 comprises an elongated bar 24 disposed beneath the platform 12. A pair of brake shoes such as 26 and 28 are disposed on opposite ends of the bar 24 for contacting the rear wheels 2t) and 18 respectively. The bar is adapted to be moved forward and backward by means of a crank such as 30 having a threaded portion 32 threadedly received through the bar 24 and joumalled in a thrust bearing 34 attached to the underside of platform 12. Upon rotation of crank 3d, the brake shoes 26 and 23 may be moved into engaging contact with the rear wheels 13 and 2d. A pair of guiding shafts 36 and 38 slidably received through the bar 24 extend between corresponding pairs of front and rear stop members 40 and 42 and a pair of compression springs 43 are disposed about the shafts 3a; and 38 and between the stops 4% and the bar 24.

A circular plate or flange 44 is attached by any suitable means to the top surface of the platform 12. An upstanding center post as is threaded at its lower end as at 48 and is threaded-1y engaged in a central threaded bore 56 in the flange 44-. A rotatable sleeve 52 telescopically received over the center post 46 and its lower end bears down on the flange 4 The sleeve 52 is provided with an annular flange 54 at its upper end which serves as a seat for a bushing 56 telescoped over the center post 46. A spacer and boom support 53 having a bore 60' therethrough is also telescoped over the center post 46 and is seated upon the angular shoulders 62 and d4 of the bushing 5'5. A pair of side beams as and 68 are attached by means of fasteners such as iii and '72 to the spacer and boom support 58 to form the boom of the shovel it The fasteners "iii and 72 also attach a pair of stirrups 74 and 7e to the boom structure. These stirrups act as supporting elements for the winding drums used with the shovel and also mount a pair of braces 78 and 8d for the boom. The brace 78 is connected between the stirrup 76 and the side beam 68 whereas brace 89 is connected between the stirrup 74 and the side beam as. To complete the assembly and maintain it in rigid relationship, a

bushing such as 82. having a bore 34 is secured between the stirrups 74 and 76 and rotatably receives: the upper end of the center post 46. The upper terminal end of the center post 46 which extends through the bore #34 is threaded as shown at 36 for the reception of a locking nut 33. Therefore, by tightening the nut 88 the sleeve 52., the bushing 56, boom support 58, boom side beams and 68, and stimups '74 and 7e are secured together to form a single integral unit. This unit, as well as the boom, is adapted to rotate about the fixed center post 46 to reposition the boom at a new location.

Mounted between the one set of ends of the side beams 6d and 68 is a sheave 9d. The sheave 9b is set at a slight angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the boom, aligned with a hoist drum assembly generally designated by the numeral 92, and rotatably mounted on a shaft 94 journalled in the end of the beams so and 63. Also mounted between the beams 66- and 63 are a pair of sheaves 96 and 98 rotatably upon a shaft 109 extending between the beams as and 68. The sheaves 96 and $8 are also set a a slight angle to the longitudinal axis of the boom so as to align with a haul-back and crown drum assembly generally designated by the numeral 102. In lieu of using cable to operate the various components of the shovel, rope is used between the sheaves and components as a safety measure. A rope 1% extends over the sheave "146 mounted on the outer portion thereof.

.and is attached at one end to a dipper'assembly-106. The dipper assembly, is of course, used to shovel earth and to transport it to a desired dumping plate. At its other end afterapassing overthe sheave 90, therope 104 is 1 wound upon a;hoisting:drum;108 of the'hoist drum-as.- .sembly 92. A pair of ropes 110 and112 are attached to thehaul-back and crown drum 114 of-the assembly 102 .andthropelltl is connected to the bottom of thedrum 114,. passesbeneaththe sheave 96, and is connected to the'dip'per control stick genenally designated by the nu- -mera1 116 at thetop thereof-by means of an eye member :118.'attached-to thedipper-co'ntro-l stick. The rope 112 ,is connected to the top of the drum 1'14 and passes over the pulley 98 and is connected at its other end to an eyebolt such as 120 carried by the: other end of the dipper control stick=116. -Finally, a rope;122 which acts'as-a dipper trip rope is tied to a latch pin 124 normally holding the dipper door assembly 126 closed. The rope 122 then passesovera sheave 128 carried by the boom beam 68 and 'a-second sheave 130 carried by a bracket 132. Attached tothe end of the rope 122 adjacent the sheave 130 is a handle'comprising a counterweight-134.

Referring to FIGURE 7, the operation of the various ropes should become apparent. By winding the hoist drum 108 in a counterclockwise direction, the dipper 106 may be raised. Rotation of the drum 108 in a clockwise direction of course will lower the dipper. Rotation of the drum 114 in a counterclockwise direction will cause winding of the rope 110 on the drum and paying out of the rope 112. This will cause the dipper control stick 116 to move toward the boom swinging the diper 106 upward and forwardly. Rotation of the drum 114 in a clockwise 7 direction will cause the rope 112 to be wound upon the drum 114 and the rope 110 to be paid out from said drum. This will cause the dipper control stick 116 to swing'the dipper --106 backward and upwardly, toward the boom. This latter operation is called haul-back-whereasthe former is known as crowding. Also, by pulling :the counterweight 134 downwardly, the operator of the shovel will cause the latch pin 124 to unlatch the upper" door assembly 126 whereby earth suitable location. u I

Each of the 'drums108, 114 are supported for rotation between a bracket 140 or 142 fastened to each of the stinrups 74 and 76. As each of the mounting assemblies are identical, the description of one will suffice for purposes of clarity. Therefore, there is a crank 144 :for rotating each drum which has rubber gripping surface The crank 144 extends through a pair of bearings 148 and 150 carried may be dumped in a in the bracket 142 and the stirrup 76 respectively. The

crank 144 also passes through a bore 152 formed in the drum and the side flanges 154 and 156 connected to the drum 114.' The side flange 154 is welded to one side of thed-rum 114 and has a central bore in which a nut 158 is secured. The nut 158 is welded to the central bore in 'the flange.154. The nut 158 has external'threads adapted :to'mate with a threaded bore 160 formed in a side of the drum 114. The side flange 156 of the drum 114 is received within a recess 162 formed in the other side of the drum. A male adapter 164 is adapted to be slid along the crank arm 144 and threaded onto the internal threads of the nut 158 to clamp the whole drum assembly 102 up against a spacer element 166 disposed between the stirrup 76 and'theside flange 156 of the drum 114. The male adapter 164 is pinned to the crank shaft arm 144 as shown at 168. .Adapter 164 forms the drum assembly "102 into an integral unit whereby upon turning of the crank arm 144; the drum'assembly 102 isadapted-to rotate'between the bracket 142 and the stirrup 76. It should alsofbe iaparent that the" drum assembly may be readily disassembled formaintenance' and repair. due to the construction just described.

.When the shovel is immobile or being transported, it is desirable'to keep the crank arms from rotating. To

dipper 106.

accomplish this p-urpose,-a-locking mechanism such-as 170 is slidably held by a pair of eyes 172 and 174 beneath each of the brackets 140, 142. The lock has a hook 176 at one end thereof which may be slid around either of the crank arms 144, to prevent the same from rotating. I, r

Thedi'pper control st-i'ck 116 is constructed of a pair of planks 180- and 182 which are spread apart and connected by a pair of spacers 184j and'186;between the ends thereof. The eye members 118 and 120 hold the components together. The dipper control stick 116 is adapted to pass between the boom beams'66 and 68 and is 'pivotable about a fixed shaft 188 passing'between the planks 180 and-182; The shaft 188 is carried between a pair of upstanding lugs 190 and 192 formed on the boom beams 68 and 66 respectively. At' it's'lower end the dipper control stick 116 is inserted between the-vertical flanges 194 and-196 of a boot198 connected'to the top of' the It should be understood that due to the spacing of the beams 180 and 182 of the dipper stick 116, the sliding and pivotal connection of the dipper control stick 116 'towthe pivot shaft 188 may be readily accomplished Also, the spacing 200 of the'stirnips 74 and 76 allows the dipper'control stick to'meet no interference when the dipper 106 "is raised to a'high' level.

The boot 198 also carries a 'bail block 202 between the vertical flanges-194 and 196 thereof. The rope 104 is-secured to the bail block by any suitable means such as "an eye member. The boot 198 is attached tothe dipper 106 so as to hold the dipper 106 at the proper digging angle.

The dipper'door assembly 126 comprises adoor'member 204 hinged as shown at 206 to-the' top of the dipper 1'06. The door is normally held closed by means of a latch pin 124 which extends through' a guide sleeve 208 and'into a latch plate 210 carried by the bottom wall of the dipper 106. The latchjp'in 124 is of' a'sufficient weight to be held in the latch plate at 'all times except when pulled out by means of the counterweight and handle 134. 'The latch 'p'in' 124 is easily adapted to be reinserted'within the latch plate 210 when the dipper is in the position shown in FIGURE 1. v

The dipper 106 has a removable dipper lip-212 designed for easy digging and fast cutting. The dipper lip 212' is detachable and maybe exchanged when worn. 'It should also be noted that the'dipper 106 has a slightly sloplilng bottom surface for easy and clean dumping of eart I a A suitable seat 214 is mounted through an aperture formed in the rear portion of the boom support and spacer 58. The seat-is adjustable for tall and short operators by means of a series of vertically spaced apertures 216 formed in a depending stem 218 of the seat. A pin 220 is adapted to be repositioned through any one of the apertures 216 as desired for accomplishing the height adjustment and to secure the seat 214 to the boom. As the seat is mounted on the boom at one side of the supporting structure, the weight of the operator upon the seat 214 will act'as aballast 'to-prevent the shovel from tipping with or without a load within the dip-per. Whenthe operator leaves the seat '214,'in order toprevent the shovel from tipping, the dipper 106 must be put on the ground as shown at FIGURE 1, or the device will have a tendency to tip. This is an added safety feature of the toy. Also, since there are no obstructions to the right side of the center post as viewed 'in FIGURE 1, the operator may swing the boom bymeans of the sleeve 52 Taboutthe center post by movement of his hips, or by walking or pushing on the platform with his feet.

Means are also provided as an extra safety feature,- to keep the boomin non-rotative position when the shovel is notin operation. A locking pin 222 is adapted to extend through the center post 46 and the boom beam 68 to prevent the'boom' from rotating. The locking pin 222 is normally connected by means of a chain 224 to a suitable eye member 226 on the stirrup 76.

To recapitulate the operation of the toy shovel, the junior operator mounts the seat 14- and removes the locking pin 222. The brake shoes 26 and 28 may be engaged with the rear wheels to keep the shovel device immobile. The operator may then simultaneously hoist the drum by rotating the hoist drum 1&8 in a clockwise direction as shown in FIGURE 7 and may haul back the dipper 106 by rotating the drum 114 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in said figure. The dipper 166 may be then lowered and brought forward to dig or scoop earth into the dipper 10s. This is accomplished by reversing the direction of rotation of the drums just described. The whole dipper assembly and the boom may be rotated to a position where the earth will be dumped. The operator by moving his feet along the platform 12 or swinging his hips on the seat 214 can rotate the boom about the center post 46 by means of the sleeve 52. The operator may then pull down the counterweight or handle 134 to remove the latch pin 124 from the latch plate 210 and tilt the dipper 1% to dump the earth accumulated in the dipper. This whole operation may then be repeated. It will thus be appreciated that the use of the toy shovel requires a degree of skill to manipulate the correct combination of components. After the junior operator has completed his use of the toy shovel, he must lower the dipper 106 to the ground to leave the seat 214. The locking pin 222 may be replaced to hold the boom from rotating. The brake shoes 26 and 28 may be released and the whole device may be moved by pushing the seat or the end of the boom to a new location.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and de scribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A toy excavating machine comprising a horizontal platform, an upstanding center post having its lower end supported from said platform, a bushing journalled on said post intermediate the upper and lower ends thereof, a pair of generally parallel and inclined beams secured to said bushing intermediate their opposite ends with said beams disposed on opposite sides of said post, an elongated dipper support beam disposed between said inclined beams and including a pin and slot connection with the latter supporting said dipper beam for pivotal movement about a fixed axis extending between the inclined beams and longitudinal shifting of the dipper beam relative to said axis, a dipper bucket carried by one end of said dipper beam, 21 pair of upright supports secured at their lower ends to said bushing and disposed on opposite sides of the upper end portion of said post projecting above said bushing, control means carried by said upright supports and operatively connected to said dipper beam for longitudinally shifting and rotating said dipper beam relative to said axis, said axis being spaced between said post and one set of corresponding ends of said inclined beams, means interconnecting the upper end of one of said upright supports and said one set of corresponding ends of said inclined beams, and vertically adjustable seat means carried by the other pair of corresponding ends of said inclined beams, said one set of ends of said inclined beams being disposed uppermost.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said horizontal platform includes depending supporting wheel assemblies.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said platform includes a brake means operatively associated with at least some of said supporting wheel assemblies.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said inclined beams and said center post include coacti-ng means releasably securing said inclined beams and said bushing in adjusted rotated positions relative to said post.

5. The combination of claim 1 including a. brace secured between said upright supports, journalled from the upper terminal end portion of said post and spaced above said bushing.

6. The combination of claim 5 including an adjustable thrust member secured to the upper terminal end portion of said post projecting through said brace and preventing upward movement of said brace relative to said post.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,359,237 11/20 Du Pont 214- 1,533,061 4/25 Dorwar-d 2l4135 1,566,030 12/25 Marks 2l4135 2,303,415 12/42 Williams 2l4-l35 2,382,346 8/45 Streater 2l4-146 2,478,084 8/49 Brown 2l4l38 2,592,457 4/52 Osgood 2l4-l 32 2,985,326 5/61 Sowell 214l35 HUGO O. SCHULZ, Primary Examiner.

ERNEST A. FALLER, JR., Examiner. 

1. A TOY EXCAVATING MACHINE COMPRISING A HORIZONTAL PLATFORM, AN UPSTANDING CENTER POST HAVING ITS LOWER END SUPPORTED FROM SAID PLATFORM, A BUSHING JOURNALLED ON SAID POST INTERMEDIATE THE UPPER AND LOWER ENDS THEREOF, A PAIR OF GENERALLY PARALLEL AND INCLINED BEAMS SECURED TO SAID BUSHING INTERMEDIATE THEIR OPPOSITE ENDS WITH SAID BEAM DISPOSED ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID POST, AN ELONGATED DIPPER SUPPORT BEAM DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID INCLINED BEAMS AND INCLUDING A PIN AND SLOT CONNECTION WITH THE LATTER SUPPORTING SAID DIPPER BEAM FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT ABOUT A FIXED AXIS EXTENDING BETWEEN THE INCLINED BEAMS AND LONGITUDINAL SHIFTING OF THE DIPPER BEAM RELATIVE TO SAID AXIS, A DIPPER BUCKET CARRIED BY ONE END OF SAID DIPPER BEAM, A PAIR OF UPRIGHT SUPPORTS SECURED AT THEIR LOWER ENDS TO SAID BUSHING AND DISPOSED ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE UPPER END PORTION OF SAID POST PROJECTING ABOVE SAID BUSHING, CONTROL MEANS CARRIED BY SAID UPRIGHT SUPPORTS AND OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID DIPPER BEAM FOR LONGITUDINALLY SHIFTING AND ROTATING SAID DIPPER BEAM RELATIVE TO SAID AXIS, SAID AXIS BEING SPACED BETWEEN SAID POST AND ONE SET OF CORRESPONDING ENDS OF SAID INCLINED BEAMS, MEANS INTERCONNECTING THE UPPER END OF ONE OF SAID URPRIGHT SUPPORTS AND SAID ONE SET OF CORRESPONDING ENDS OF SAID INCLINED BEAMS, AND VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE SETS MEANS CARRIED BY THE OTHER PAIR OF CORRESPONDING ENDS OF SAID INCLINED BEAMS, SAID ONE SET OF ENDS OF SAID INCLINED BEAMS DISPOSED UPPERMOST. 